Israeli Parliament Adopts Bills on Jerusalem, Palestinian RefugeesIsrael's Knesset (Parliament) Monday adopted a law on Jerusalem and approved on first reading a bill regarding the return of Palestinian refugees to Israel.The law on Jerusalem, submitted by legislator Yehoshua Matza from the right-wing opposition Likud Party, passed the third and final reading by a vast margin of 84 in favor to 19 against. Under the new law, any change to Jerusalem's municipal borders and the transfer of areas of the holy city to a non-Israeli entity will need the support of an absolute majority, or 61 votes, in the 120-seat Knesset. The status of Jerusalem has been the most difficult issue in the peace talks between the two sides, as Israel has claimed that the holy city is its "eternal and undivided" capital, and the Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of their future independent state. The Labor-led coalition government, which is now only controlling 40 parliament seats, was initially opposed to the law amendment. But it later caved in to the opposition demands on the Jerusalem issue. In response, the left-wing Meretz party lawmakers, who voted against the bill, vowed that they will author a bill immediately to annul the newly-approved amendment, arguing that it prejudices the chances of success in future peace negotiations. Meanwhile, the Knesset endorsed a bill on the return of Palestinian refugees, another nodus in the Israeli-Palestinian talks, in the first reading with a vote of 90 in favor and nine against. The bill requires an absolute majority of the Knesset to authorize the return of Palestinian refugees to Israeli territories. It still faces another two readings before becoming law. Under the United Nations Resolution 194, the Palestinian refugees have the right to return or to be financially compensated. Israel opposes a mass return of Palestinian refugees because it fears this would lead to a bi-ethnic state. |
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